Sault Ste. Marie, MI – Roads and power lines across eastern Upper Michigan could become dangerously coated in ice overnight as freezing rain develops, raising the risk of outages and near-impossible travel by Saturday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Gaylord, a Winter Storm Watch takes effect late Friday night and continues through Saturday afternoon across Chippewa and Mackinac counties. Ice accumulations between one-tenth and three-tenths of an inch are possible, with easterly wind gusts reaching 25 to 30 mph.
Communities including Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, and surrounding rural areas may see conditions deteriorate quickly after midnight. Precipitation may begin as a mix early Saturday before transitioning to mostly freezing rain after sunrise, allowing ice to steadily build on roads, trees, and power lines.
Key routes such as I-75 and M-28 could become slick and hazardous, especially on bridges and untreated surfaces. Ice accumulation may lead to downed limbs and scattered to widespread power outages.
Residents should prepare for potential outages, avoid unnecessary travel, and charge essential devices. Conditions remain dangerous through Saturday afternoon, with additional warnings likely as the system intensifies.
